Aldershot Town v York City

29 September 2012 01:41

York City are seeking a first win in five games against Aldershot Town at the Recreation Ground on Saturday afternoon. The visitors are boosted by the availability of central defensive pair Chris Smith (hamstring) and Clarke Carlisle (ankle). But midfielder John McReady has already been ruled out for the next couple of months with a dislocated shoulder suffered in last week's draw with Cheltenham. Striker Matty Blair could push for a recall after scoring twice during a 2-1 private reserves friendly victory against Doncaster earlier this week. “Chris Smith and Clarke Carlisle have both returned to training so I have some decisions to make again," York manager Gary Mills told The Press. "David McGurk needed the game on Monday and needs a few more to get his sharpness but we’re hoping to play Newcastle on Wednesday and Sunderland or Scunthorpe the following week, so we’ve got games coming up for the players to get fitter and to show me that they want to get in the side. “Chris Doig also needed the couple of games he’s had back in the team but there's better to come from him. I want him back to the form he showed at the back end of last season when he was reading the game and not giving the ball away. “There’s competition again at centre-back so it’s down to the players who get to fill those two positions." Three players have actually departed Bootham Crescent this week with striker Liam Henderson and young midfielder Tom Platt going out on loan to Gainsborough Trinity and Harrogate Town respectively. Meanwhile, former Scottish international forward Scott Dobie has been released after coming to the end of a short-term deal. Aldershot are missing the suspended Peter Vincenti, fellow midfielder Craig Stanley (broken leg) and goalkeeper Ross Worner (back). But former York striker Michael Rankine could again make the bench.